NCS and AfCFTA Coordination Committee Hold Workshop to Strengthen Intra-African Trade

NCS and AfCFTA Coordination Committee Hold Workshop to Strengthen Intra-African Trade

In a bid to bolster trade facilitation across Africa, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), in collaboration with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Coordination Committee, organized a one-day workshop on October 17, 2024, at the Bolton White Hotel, Abuja.

The workshop convened key officials from the NCS, including Area Controllers, and representatives from the AfCFTA Coordination Office, to explore strategies aimed at enhancing trade within the continent.

Segun Awolowo, the National Coordinator of the AfCFTA Committee, delivered the keynote address, emphasizing the transformative potential of the AfCFTA agreement. He highlighted the framework's goal to eliminate tariffs on the majority of goods and services, reduce barriers to capital and labor movement, and foster a conducive environment for investment throughout Africa.

“The focus of today’s workshop is to underscore the critical roles played by our trade exit points, port Area Controllers, and Customs command posts under the AfCFTA framework,” Awolowo said. “These components are crucial for realizing the seamless trade facilitation envisioned by AfCFTA, benefiting businesses in Nigeria and across the continent.”

Representing the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, at the event, the NCS’s Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs in charge of the Tariff & Trade Department, Caroline Niagwan, reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to supporting the implementation of AfCFTA. She emphasized the importance of simplifying trade processes and advancing regional integration.

“Our duty is to ensure we adopt efficient measures that simplify AfCFTA’s implementation,” Niagwan stated. “This includes digitizing and harmonizing Customs procedures to enable the smooth flow of goods and services across African borders.”

Niagwan also underscored the necessity of modernizing NCS operations through the use of digital technologies to improve trade efficiency. “To meet AfCFTA’s goals, we must embrace technological innovations that allow us to fulfill our responsibilities more effectively,” she added.

The workshop further highlighted the opportunities AfCFTA presents for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The agreement is poised to enhance the competitiveness of African SMEs globally by opening up new markets and reducing trade barriers.

The collaboration between the NCS and the AfCFTA Coordination Committee is seen as vital in ensuring that Africa reaps the full benefits of integrated trade, driving sustainable economic growth across the continent.

This event marks a significant step in Nigeria’s continued efforts to align its trade policies with the broader vision of African economic integration and development.